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I feel like a bit of a foreigner in this city. Having spent the most significant part of my adult life (thus far) in Guelph, coming back to Hamilton wasn't a glorious return to the homeland. It felt more like a flashback. I'm still overcome by a strange, prolonged sense of vague familiarity; street names that register but lead to no commonly frequented, comfortable dive bar. I feel like asking passers-by, "Which way to the nearest Red Brick Cafe equivalent?".
Of course, when you live downtown in a small city long enough, you develop the habit of communicating directions by describing storefronts (and in the case of Guelph, railroad tracks, church steeples and statues). You map out your routes through town based on the places you love visiting most; the places that make you feel at home. You know the coffee shop with the freshest organic brew, the Chilean eatery with the tastiest vegetarian dishes and the best places to shop secondhand. When you're removed from all of that, you can't help but feel a little heavy hearted. A little removed from home.
It's true; my heart remains in the city of Guelph. However, being the full-blooded born and raised Hamiltonian that I am, I've decided to give the place a chance. I'm going to commit to rediscovering the city in a new light, with a fresh and more positive perspective. This blog will follow my adventures and chronicle my discoveries as I attempt to re-establish my life here. I hope to discover (and share) places that capture my attention and ones I'll return to. Ultimately, I'd like to figure out how to live well in Hamilton, ON, and I'm excited to share my findings!
Stay tuned for: My first adventure at the Hamilton Farmers' Market; feel-good shopping, in more ways than one!
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